Liquid dispensing nozzle spout structure



Aug- 6, 1968 H. L. sUTcLlr-'FE ETAL 3,395,740

LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE SPOUT STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 United States Patent O 3,395,740 LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE SPOUT STRUCTURE Hazel L. Sutcliffe and Eugene G. Sutcliffe, both of 122 E. Madison Ave., Kirkwood, Mo. 63122 Filed Oct.`22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,221 Claims. (Cl. 141-392) ABSTRACT OF 'IHE DISCLOSURE A dispensing nozzle structure for use in filling a gasoline tank, of the type present in motor vehicles, and involving an automatic cut-oli valve which remains open during the flow of air through a passage having an inlet near the discharge end of the nozzle structure and running the length of the latter, which inlet opening is closed when the gasoline in the tank rises over it; the terminal portion at least of the nozzle structure provided with the inlet opening, in the present invention, being of nonmetallic material to protect the end of the nozzle structure from damage and to prevent marring or other injury to the vehicle finish.

The spout usually remains inserted in the tank opening while the attendant cleans the windshield, inspects liquid levels in oil reservoir, radiator and battery, tire pressures and performs other duties. If the spout is carelessly applied, the finish of the vehicle may be scratched, or if the nozzle is overbalanced and falls from the tank or if the vehicle moves before the nozzle is intentionally removed, the nozzle may be damaged by falling to the ground. After use, the nozzle is hung upon the pump standard and may scratch the linish or drop. These and similar conditions contribute to damaging inished surfaces or bending or other distortion of the spout. The nozzle spout may include a small inner tube for air leading to an automatic shut-off valve in the nozzle and the tube requires an air inlet through the wall of the spout near its outer discharge end. This air inlet and the adjacent end of the tube may be damaged by the incidents mentioned above, or otherwise.

The main object of the present invention is to avoid such damage to the spout, including its air tube and inlet, to the vehicle finish, the rim of the vehicle tank opening and to the pump standard. This general object and other detail objects as will appear below are attained by a nozzle spout, the outer or discharge end portion of which is shaped to avoid accidental removal from the tank opening. Preferably the end portion, at least, of the spout is formed of nonmetallic material which yields to the relatively hard rim of the tank opening and also protects the inlet to the spout air tube. The invention may comprise a relatively short sleeve applicable to the end of the spout and renewable if damaged. Another form of the invention embodies a spout, including the discharge end, being formed throughout of nonmetallic material applicable to a spout body.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating selected embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a spout forming a part of a dispensing nozzle for a gasoline filling station pump. The spout is broken away in part to better illustrate an air inlet tube whereby the closing of the nozzle valve is rendered automatic when the liquid in the tank being filled rises to a level near the inlet.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the end portion of the spout and is drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse vertical sections on corresponding section lines of FIG. 2.

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FIG. 6 is a section corresponding generally to FIG.v 2 but showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section corresponding generally to FIG. 2 but showing the complete spout embodying another form of the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are transverse sections on corresponding section lines of FIG. 7.

The nozzle indicated in FIG. 1 includes a handle 1, a guard 3, valve housings 5, 7, a valve operating lever 9 and an elongated metal spout 11 leading from housing 7. The lower portion of the spout wall is slit lengthwise atS(FIG.5).

A relatively short sleeve 14 of relatively soft plastic material is slipped over the outer end of spout 11 and has an internal shoulder 15 limiting its inward movement and forming a reduced diameter rim 16 forming a protective element preventing contact of the end of the spout body with any external object.

The sleeve Wall includes a thickened rib-like portion 17 extending inwardly toward the axis of the sleeve and spout and of a Width to fit snugly in slit S in the spout. Rib 17 increases in depth from the extreme outer end of the sleeve to a point approximately midway of the length of the sleeve rib 17. The sleeve is provided with an L-shaped passageway 18, 19 leading inwardly transversely of the length of the sleeve to near the innermost portion of the rib and then lengthwise of the sleeve and spout and opening through the inner end of the rib to slidably receive the outermost end of a tube 12 which leads to a vacuum chamber in housing 7 whereby the shutting olf of air from inlet opening 18 results in the release of the nozzle valve in a manner well known in the art land illustrated for example, in Morrison Patent 2,679,967.

An eccentric annulus 20 projects radially of the inner end of the spo-ut and its radial surfaces most remote from the outer end of the sleeve are disposed to engage the inner face of a tank rim when the spout is inserted within the tank and thereby hold the spout from accidentally falling out of the tank while the user is attending to other services. The lowermost portion of the annulus is thicker than the upper part to provide a larger holding surface 21. At the sa-me time, tilting of the spout about its longitudinal axis will facilitate intentional removal of the spout from the tank.

A set screw 23 is inserted through the annulus to secure the same to the nozzle and prevent their separation by jerking the nozzle away from the tank while the inner face of the rim is engaged by the annulus.

The device described above provides for the use of a simple nozzle spout without requiring any machine work on the outer end of the spout except the formation of slit S, and eliminates the necessity of providing speci-a1 fittings and soldered joints connecting the outer end of tube 12 and the adjacent portion of spout 11.

In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the spout body 31 is tubular to its extreme outer end and does not have a slit corresponding to that shown at S in the form previously described. Its inner air tube 32 extends alongside of the inner wall of the spout body and preferably is soldered thereto and terminates in a collapsed end 33 preferably soldered at 34 to the spout body near its extreme end. There is a transverse opening 36 through the spout body and air tube. A sleeve 38 corresponding generally to sleeve 14 is applied over the outer end yof the spout body and includes an annulus 37 corresponding to annulus 20 previously described and similarly attached to the spout body by .a set screw 39. The sleeve has a transverse opening 41 arranged to align with opening 36 through the spout body and air tube.

This arrangement is particularly adapted for application to a spout as shown in the above-mentioned Morrison pate-nt without 4any change in the spout.

The spout Shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 includes a body 51` formed through-out of plastic material and including as integral parts thereof an air tube 53 merging with the wall of the spout body at S5, the tube passageway terminating in an outturned air inlet opening 57 and the adjacent por tion of the tube aring at 59 to the outside diameter of the spout body. An annulus 61 corresponds to the annuli 20 and 37 previously described.

The inner end of tube 53 is spaced substantially centrally of the spout body and is connected to the body wall by Ian elongated rib 63 so as to receive the end of a vacuum chamber tube 65 disposed centrally of the nozzle outlet 66.

The structures described above are adapted to attain the objects set forth in the introductory portion of the specification and may be utilized as part of the initial equipment of a filling nozzle of the type described, or may be applied to such a nozzle already installed or, in the form shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, may be used as a replacement for the all-metal nozzles generally in use.

The details of the structures may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquidadispensing nozzle spout end Structure having a discharge end adapted to be inserted through the rim of an opening in a tank to be supplied through the Structure, the structure 'being formed of yieldable plastic material and having a tubular wall with 4a part thickened transversely of its length adjacent said discharge end and provided with an L-shaped air inlet passage leading inwardly from the exterior side of the structure and then away from said end lengthwise of the structure.

2. Nozzle spout end structure as described in claim 1 in which the thickened wall part comprises an elongated narrow rib disposed radially of the structure and shorter than the exterior of the structure, and the inner end of the L-shaped -air inlet passage in the thickened wall part lbeing open to slidably receive the end portion of a vacuum air tube inside the spout.

3. A liquid dispensing nozzle spout comprising a main member of metal and a relatively small diameter air tube therein, and an end structure consisting of a short sleeve of relatively soft plastic material applied over the discharge end of said member and extending beyond the outer end thereof and having a longitudinal axis, the outer end portion of the sleeve being thickened radially and having an interior Shoulder seated against the outer end of said member, there being 1an air inlet passage in said thickened end portion leading inwardly of said sleeve transversely of said axis and then extending substantially parallel to said -axis and away from the outer end of the member and slidably receiving the end of the air tube.

4. A liquid dispensing nozzle as described in claim 3 in which the metal member has a relatively narrow slit extending inwardly from its discharge end and the thickened outer end portion of the slee-ve comprises a Similarly narrow rib slidably received in said slit.

S. In combination, a liquid dispensing nozzle spout of metal having a liquid inlet end and a liquid discharge end, there being an air inlet tube positioned inwardly of the spout and leading inwardly ofthe spout from near said discharge end and leading substantially parallel to the side of the spout toward its inlet end, and a replaceable terminal sleeve of relatively soft plastic material slidable over the discharge end of th spout to protect the same and contacting surfaces from damage and having a radially projecting annulus, said sleeve being provided With an L-shaped inlet passage leading transversely and then lengthwise of the sleeve and slidably receiving the inlet end of said tube, and releasable means operable from the exterior of the spout and sleeve and securing them together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,262 10/1929 Higby 137-379 2,869,593 1/1959 zieg 141-214X 3,211,196 10/1965 Rozinak 141-392 3,312,257 4/1967 Knapp et a1. m1-225x 3,332,457 7/1967 Nisbet et a1. 137-so1x FOREIGN PATENTS 641,330 4/1928 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGE'R, Primary Examiner.

E. I. EARLS, Assistant Examiner. 

